Internal-combustion engine for aircraft



June4, 1929. '9 WOWARNER A 1,716,095

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Nov. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZZZZZQM '0- W zr n er June 4, i929. 'w, 0, ARNER 1,716,095

Patented ame; 192a UNITED AT Es wrnnrm o. WARNER,- or nnrnorr, m'ronreen, assrenon are "run wanna cnerr connoaerron, or nnrnorr, nrcnreeu, A conroaarron or mcnrenn.

mrnnnen-comnusrron ENGINE non AIRG =2 Applicatitn and November 4,.1e27. Serial n. 233,250.

The invention relates to internal combustion engines designed particularly for use with aircraft. One of the objects of the inven'tion is to construct the engine toprovide for'maxinrum power and minimum weight.

Another object-is to provide an improved connection between the crank shaft and the propeller by means of which the total weight of the engine is reduced. A. further object is to provide an improved crankcase which is of light but strong construction, thereby reducing the total weight of the engine. With these as well as other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations'and arrangements'of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth. In the drawings- V Figure 1 is a sectional view, showing an internal combustion engine embodying my invention;

the prank case.

Figures 2 and 3 are cross sections, resp.ectively, on the lines 22 and 33 of Figure 1. e

The engine is of the radial multi-cylinder type having the crank case 1 and the radially arranged 'cylinders2 about the periphery of The crank case comprises the cooperating front and rear sections 3 and 4, respectively, which have their adjacent cdges'in the aproximate plane of the axes of the cylinders and which are suitably secured together as by means of the bolts 5 and nuts 5' which are located between the cylinders. 6is the crankshaft of the engine 'journaled. in the front and rear sections of the crankcase by the anti-friction bearings 7 and 8, respectively. For the-purpose of providing-a light construction of crank. case, which at the same time is amply strong to take carefof the stresses towhich it is sub jected during the operation of the engine, the front section 3 of the crank case has .the' integral front wall 9 and hub 10'with the hubof a size to receive the bearing 7 I and the front wall providing an extended 'nected. Furthermore, thereare the radial? ring from the hub to the periphery of the crankcase to "whichlthe cylinders are conly extending ribs 11 integral with'the front wall 9, the hub 10 and'the peripheral wall of the front section to reinforce the same to thereby'better take care'of the stresses incident to the, operation of lfthe engine.-. .1

To connect the propeller 12 to the crank with a crank case,

and thenn't '18 threaded crank-shaft, there is the longitudinally split cone 17 encircling the-crank shaft and having' a wedging engagement with the sleeve 11 on the front end of the crank shaft and a iutting the cone; Suitable means extending through *the mrt and crank shaft ma be provided for lochng the two together. or supporting the sleeve I have provided the anti-friction bearing 19 within the front end of the hub 10 and V opposite the bearing 7, there being a suit able spacer 20 encircling the sleeve portion Hand positioned between these bearings.

With the arrangementas above described, it will be seen that by making the front section of the crar'gk case in one piece and that p by forming a smalhintegral hub upon this front section of a size to receive the bear: ing for the crank shaft the necessary weight of this front section may be kept at the minimum owing to the fact that an extended ring of metal is provided for absorbing the stresses incident to the operation of the en.-

gine. lt-will also be seen that my connection between the propeller and crank shaft permits of greatly reducing the total weight ofan engine in which the crank shaft extends through the propeller and furtheruponthe crank case.

What I claim as my invention is:

1; In anaircraft-engine, the combinationwith a crank case,-a crank shaft, a bearing for. said crank shaft/carried bysaid crank case and a'propeller, of a sleeve connected to said crank shaft and propeller for. driving the latter from theformer, and a be'aringfor saidsleeve, said last mentioned bearing being carriedby said Tcrank case and being lo- {cated at; one side ofsaid first mentioned bearing. a

' In an all-waft the combination I P shaft and a pro- .11

more provides for mounting the propeller tudinal movement relative to said crank I Shaft bearing for said sleeve carried y Saidcran'ke V 3. In an aircraft engine, the combination .1'0 with a crank case,

a crank-shaft and a propeller; of a sleeve splined upon said crank shaft and having a transverse flange for connection to-said propeller, means threaded upon said crank shaft for retaining said sleeve from longitudinal movement relative tosaid crank shaft, and a bearing for said sleeve carried by said crank case.

4. In' an aircraft engine, the combination with a crankcase,

peller, vof a sleeve splined upon said crank shaft within said crank case and having a transverse flange outside said crankcase for connection to said propeller, a longitudinally split cone encircling said crank shaft and engaging said sleeve for retaining the same om longitudinal movement relative to said crank shaft sleeve splined upon said crank secured to said propeller.

- of a sleeve connected directly to sai a crank shaft and a pro-' with a crank case, 'peller, of a sleeve a nut threaded upon said crank shaft and abutting said cone, and a bearing I J r encircling'the splined portion of said sleeve, and carried by said crank case.-

5. In an aircraft engine, the combination with acrank case'ha and a propeller, of a sleeve having a portion extending within said hub and non-rotatably secured to said crankshaft and a portion outside said crank case and connected to said propeller, a hearing within said hub for said crank shaft, and an adjacent bearing within said hub for said sleeve.

6. In an; aircraft engine, the combination with a crank case having an integral inwardly extending hubat one end, a crank shaft jou'rnaled in said hub and a propeller,

propeller having a portion connected to said crank shaft within said hub.

g a hub at one end, a a crank shaft extending through said hub f 7. In an aircraft' engine, the combination a crankshaft and a pro-- splined upon said crankshaft and having a transverse flange for conn'ction to said propeller, and a bearing for said sleeve carried by said crankcase.

- WILLI M o. WARNER.

In testimony whereof I my signature. 

